The plant known as “bitter carqueja” is a small shrub, with the scientific name Baccharis trimera, belonging to the composite family. Carqueja can grow up to only 80 cm tall. Its leaves are oval and small, and its flowers cluster in small yellowish bouquets. It is also known by other names, such as little carqueja, wild carqueja, bacanta, bacárida, or sweet caclia.
Carqueja is native to Brazil and grows in more mountainous regions, in dry and well-ventilated soils. Its tea can be used medicinally, since bitter carqueja has many health properties.
Properties of Carqueja
Bitter carqueja is famous for its bitter taste and for its antipyretic property. Its bitter principles, when in contact with the taste buds, increase appetite and the production of gastric juice, making it useful for those who suffer from hypochlorhydria.
It is also capable of increasing bile produced by the liver, due to “carquejol”, a type of oil present in the plant that acts on the hepatocyte, preventing lipid peroxidation. In addition, carqueja also helps to control blood glucose levels, prevent anemia, and has anti-asthmatic, antibiotic, laxative, vermifuge, anti-dyspeptic, anti-flu, anti-inflammatory, depurative, digestive, antirheumatic, diuretic, and emollient properties.
Carqueja is used for the natural treatment of some gastric, intestinal, febrile, hepatic, or biliary diseases. Still requiring more scientific research, it is believed that these properties come from its phenolic compounds, such as flavones, flavonoids, and saponins.
Benefits of Carqueja Tea
Carqueja is used by infusing it as a tea, which is considered a stomach tonic to control appetite or as a diuretic and depurative. It can be drunk in cases of constipation or weakness due to flu and fever.
There are many different health problems that can be treated in combination with carqueja tea. Some listed conditions are: anemia from blood loss, dyspepsia, low intestinal motility, gastritis, gallstones, diabetes, bitter mouth, sore throat and poor digestion. Or, in issues with the spleen, bladder, liver, and kidneys as well.
Main Effects
Among its benefits, the effects that have been studied are:
- Relief of gastrointestinal problems
- Cholesterol reduction
- Blood glucose and diabetes control
- Helps in treating pharyngitis, tonsillitis, asthma, and bronchitis
- Elimination of intestinal worms
- Promotes good blood circulation
- Effective against rheumatism
- Helps with weight loss
Daily Use of Carqueja
Bitter carqueja tea is the most commonly used therapeutic form, but there are also other ways to use the plant and take advantage of its benefits, including compress or bath infusions.
For tea to control glucose, the ratio is 1 tablespoon of chopped carqueja leaves for 1 liter of boiling water.
The leaves should be added after boiling, with the heat turned off. After letting the tea steep, strain it and you can drink up to 1 cup up to 6 times a day. In these cases, it’s important to eat every three hours to avoid hypoglycemia.
The infusion or decoction of carqueja is made at 2.5%. For example, 60 grams of carqueja leaves are used to infuse the plant in 1 liter of water. The compress can be applied to the throat, belly, or wherever there is inflammation, or you can take partial baths in the affected area.
There is also a tea made from the stalks (stems) and leaves of carqueja, to be taken about 150 ml 3 to 4 times a day; and even the so-called “digestive wine”: one tablespoon of carqueja stems is mashed in half a glass of cachaça for 5 days. After straining, the mash is added to a bottle of white wine. Drinking it before meals aids digestion, and only a small glass is needed.
Side Effects and Contraindications of Carqueja
The consumption of bitter carqueja is not recommended for pregnant or breastfeeding women. Care should also be taken with overconsumption, as the tea may cause hypoglycemia and lower blood pressure. For people already prone to these conditions, it’s best to avoid drinking carqueja tea.
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Photo: 304cina62, Mateus Hidalgo
